Boston | Fenway Park Game Day

Contents:

1. Intro

2. Recommended Itinerary

3. Restaurants

4. Attractions

5. Hotels

Fenway Park – A Fun Day at the Ball Game

[Note: Every place included on this list has been personally vetted for wheelchair accessibility. When we use the term “accessible”, we account for things like stepless entry, sufficient space to maneuver a wheelchair, accessible restrooms, etc.]

Nothing is quite like a good ball game at Fenway Park. The energetic atmosphere shrouded in a sea of Red Sox apparel-wearing fans, the smell of street-vendor sausages, and the refreshing taste of a cold cup of water or draft beer make a day out in Red Sox territory an essential Boston experience. What follows is a short guide on how to enjoy a memorable and hassle-free game day at Fenway Park.

General

Fenway Park is one of the most historic sports stadiums in the country, and besides offering a great view of the Red Sox, it also boasts an eventful and fun backstory. Whether you are a sports fan, history buff, or simply want a fun afternoon experience just outside of downtown Boston, taking the Fenway Park “Pre-Game Tour” is an awesome activity. Between taking the tour, grabbing a good meal, and watching the Red Sox launch a couple of homeruns, a game-day spent in Fenway is an absolute blast. The best part – all of these experiences are totally accessible and require little planning!

Parking:

Street Parking: On game days, street parking within a five-minute walk of the stadium is nearly impossible to come by. There are also not many accessible-designated parking spaces. With that said, we recommend planning on parking at a parking garage.

Parking Garages: Given the large volume of traffic that Red Sox games generate, there are numerous parking garages in the area to accommodate fans. If you are arriving in time for the pre-game tour, you won’t have too much trouble finding parking nearby; it becomes exponentially more difficult to find convenient parking the closer it comes to game time. With too many parking lots in the area to include below, we have picked two of the most convenient lots to display. However, we recommend using the following link to decide where to park: http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/bos/ballpark/directions/index.jsp?content=parking

- Fenway Garage:

o Address: 189 Ipswich Street, Boston

o $50

o Distance from Stadium: 0 min (directly underneath stadium)

- 120 Brookline Ave:

o Address: 120 Brookline Avenue, Boston

o $40

o Distance from Stadium: 2 min

Transportation:

- Kenmore T Stop: To arrive to Fenway Park via by public transportation, ride the T (Boston subway system) to the Kenmore T stop with the Green Line B, C, or D. The Kenmore T, which is fully accessible thanks to elevator installments, is a direct (but uphill) five-minute walk to and from the stadium.

- Car Rental: Accessible Vans of America, a company that specializes in renting out accessible equipment, offers services in Boston and can be a convenient way to access the North End.

- Uber/Lyft: Both Uber and Lyft operate in Boston and are convenient ways of arriving at the North End.

TravelEZ’s Recommended Itinerary

Total Time: 5 hours 30 minutes

Total Distance: .5 mile

1. Arrive via T at Kenmore T Stop or Park at Fenway Park Garage.

2. Walk to Fenway Park Gate D to purchase your ticket for the Pre-Game Stadium tour and hang tight for a few minutes until the tour begins. [15 min]

3. Take the Pre-Game Stadium tour and learn about the fun and extensive history of one of America’s most famous sporting stadiums! [1 hour]

4. Walk on over to Island Creek Oyster Bar to treat yourself to a top-notch meal at Island Creek Oyster Bar (make sure to call ahead or use OpenTable to coordinate a reservation in advance, as the restaurant often fills completely on game days. [1 hour 15 min]

5. Head on over to the Bleacher Bar below Fenway Park’s bleacher seating area to enjoy some drinks and catch a great view of batting practice on the baseball field. If you prefer to move around a bit, walk along Yawkey Way to take in the atmosphere as Red Sox Nation begins to take the streets, and maybe stop in to browse some Red Sox memorabilia at the official store (also on Yawkey Way)! [30 min]

6. Enter Fenway Park stadium via Gate E, allowing yourself plenty of time to grab some beverages/food if you want it, and then take a seat to watch the pre-game events. [15 min]

7. Sit back and enjoy an amazing afternoon/evening of baseball along with some Sweet Home Alabama and Sweet Caroline tunes in between innings! [2.5-3 hours]

8. Walk back to the Kenmore T Stop or Fenway Park Garage to return after an exciting day in Fenway! With so much traffic leaving the stadium at once, we recommend avoiding the massive crowds and either leave a little bit earlier or later than other fans. Fans tend to leave a little earlier if the score is lopsided in the last couple innings, but you will want to make a judgment call for yourself).

Restaurants

There are plenty of solid and accessible restaurants surrounding the Fenway Park stadium to accommodate the massive crowds looking to drink and dine before and after games. While there are tons of chain restaurants (Bertucci’s, Uno, McDonald’s, etc.) to choose from, there are also great local eateries. Below, we’ve selected a handful of tasty and accessible (TravelEz Certified) options around the way for you to choose from!

One of the best restaurants in Boston (TripAdvisor, Zagat), Island Creek Oyster Bar is the place to go if you’re looking for a top-notch meal. The restaurant, located inside Hotel Commonwealth, is an extremely popular choice by people looking for a great meal regardless of the game, so be sure to book in advance! Just a five-minute walk from Fenway Park, this restaurant is completely accessible.

Eastern Standard ($$$, 4 Stars on Yelp, 4½ Stars on TripAdvisor)

A classic French Brasserie, Eastern Standard offers an awesome menu along with a view of Red Sox Nation as they crowd the streets before or after the ballgame. Additionally, the restaurant has completely accessible indoor and heated outdoor seating and is only a five-minute walk from Fenway Park.

Bleacher Bar ($$, 4 Stars on Yelp, 4½ Stars on TripAdvisor)

Located under Fenway Park’s bleachers, the Bleacher Bar has gained fame for its ground-to-ceiling window that gives patrons a view of the ballpark’s center field. Along with offering an awesome atmosphere and sweet spot to overlook the field, the bar also offers decent food and is completely accessible.

There are stairs at the entrance, but there is a lift to the right of the entrance for access to the bar. The restroom is also fully accessible. It is important to note, though, that the bar gets extremely crowded and difficult to navigate near and during game time. We recommend avoiding during hours just before, during, or after games. Instead, swing by here

Sweet Cheeks Q ($$, 3½ Stars on Yelp, 4½ Stars on TripAdvisor)

A direct 7-minute walk from Fenway Park, this accessible and well-reviewed BBQ restaurant is an especially fun option for groups (their “Big Rig” is a $450 BBQ and side dish meant for ten people, and their platters are very easy to share).

Attractions/Things to Do

An afternoon filled with a tour of Fenway Park followed by lunch (and maybe a refreshing beer or two?), wandering the area, picking up some Red Sox swag, and enjoying a ballgame should keep a smile on your face for most of the day. Read below to learn about how to enjoy the accessible tour and ballgame hassle-free!

Fenway Park – “Pre-Game” Stadium Tour

The Fenway Park stadium tour is an hour-long, completely accessible tour of the historic Red Sox stadium. Explanations of landmarks within the stadium (e.g. Green Monster) and fun tid-bits of information keep you entertained as you wander through all parts of the stadium. Walking onto the warning track, peeking into the press box, and visiting the seats that still remain from 1934 are just a few stops along the way. Every aspect of the tour is accessible, with ramps and elevators being used throughout the tour.

During game-days, crowds can be large but it is an enjoyable experience nonetheless. While tickets can be purchased online on days the team does not have a home game, they must be purchased in person at the Gate D ticket booth on the day of the game when the Red Sox play at home. Weather permitting, game day tours begin about 3 hours prior to the game’s start time (e.g. if game starts at 7:10pm, tour begins at 4:00pm). Tickets cost $35 per person.

Tour It. Watch a Game from It. Drink Beside It. All with Easy Accessibility if You Plan Ahead!

Fenway Park – Red Sox Game

The Sox game – the main event. Beyond seeing some of the best Big League players close up, a day out in Fenway is a fun outing for the casual observer and sports fanatic alike! The atmosphere, food and beverages, and terrific athletic performances make for a perfect afternoon or evening event. On top of all of these benefits, every activity involved is completely accessible. Despite being one of the oldest sports stadiums in the country, Fenway Park has been updated to offer 100% accessible facilities.

We recommend purchasing your ticket ahead of time online (link included below; if you are looking for ADA seating, click on the “Buy Tickets” button for the game you want to attend, and then, in the new window that opens up, scroll to the bottom right of the page and click “Click here for ADA seating”). There is seating designated for wheelchair users Grandstand, Bleacher, Green Monster, Right Field Roof Deck, Loge Box, Infield and Right Field Roof Box and Dell Technologies areas. You can also purchase your tickets in person at will-call at the stadium.

We recommend entering the stadium at Gate E (clearly marked) where there is a wider and less hectic entrance than others. There, staff can either help or direct you to your seat. It is preferable to arrive about 30 minutes before the game’s start time to get settled and avoid being rushed on your way to your seat.

Other Attractions/Things to Do Nearby

Note: The following list has NOT been reviewed by TravelEZ. We recommend you call ahead for accessibility if you intend to visit any of these locations.

While a day filled with Red Sox-inspired activities is certainly a great sequence for most, it might not be the best agenda for you. With that said, we have included below a handful of other activities in the area (most are a 5-10-minute drive from the ballpark).

- Museum of Fine Arts

- Boston Symphony Hall, Boston Symphony Orchestra

- Isabella Steward Gardner Museum

- House of Blues Concert Venue

Hotels

Hotel Commonwealth (4 Stars on TripAdvisor)

Hotel Commonwealth is a premier hotel with a central location (less than a minute to/from Kenmore T Stop, 5-minute walk to/from Fenway Park), an elegant and spacious atmosphere, and includes a selection of the area’s best restaurants on the hotel’s premises (Island Creek Oyster Bar, Eastern Standard, and The Hawthorne). The hotel is also particularly accessible, featuring 4 rooms with roll-in showers, 12 rooms with accessible features, 24-hour room service, and a very spacious hotel layout.